The Fight for the AMNRL Grand Final

Posted by druzik on Jan 29th, 2010 in Domestic, International, Rugby League | 9 comments

By Daniel Andruczyk

No, no… its not a fight to get the AMNRL Grand Final, the Philadelphia Fight did get the AMNRL Grand Final! Also some international results and more good news coming out of Lebanon. A bit in the rumour mill as well this week with Poland.

AMNRL Final to Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Fight Rugby League Team has been awarded this years American National Rugby League Grand Final. to be held on the 28th of August, the same weekend as the Challenge Cup final in the UK. The ground will be the home ground of the fight the A. A. Garthwaite Stadium in Conshohocken

England Junior woes Continue

Or is it a case that at the Junior level many of the other nations are just much more up to speed? The 27th of January saw the Wales U18’s take on the Community lions in the next Discovery Challenge Cup game. England were already languishing at the bottom and the Australian Institute of Sport have taken the honours so pride was on the line here.

In what was a tight game the welsh kids came out with their 6th win in the last 7 encounters with the eastern folk winning 28-14 in Leeds.

In other news the second round of the Challenge cup draw was made. Some of the opponents are still waiting upon results from matches that will be played out this weekend

Stanningley or Wigan St Judes v Milford Marlins
Rochdale Mayfield v Leigh East
Castleford Panthers v Thatto Heath Crusaders
Ovenden v Myton Warriors or Halton Cross Simms
Wath Brow Hornets v East Hull
Siddal v Oulton
Drighlington or West Hull v Castleford Lock Lane
Normanton or Wigan St Pats v Hunslet Warriors
Hull Dockers or Pilkington Recs v Shaw Cross or Leigh Miners Rangers
British Police v Leeds Met
RAF or Warrington Wizards v The Army
Edinburgh Eagles v Blackwood Bulldogs
The Navy v West London Sharks or Nottingham Outlaws

Lebanon Powers On

The 2010 Presidents XIII train on squad was announced this week. This is a match that will play the Liban Espoir who are the Lebanon National side made up from the Local competition.

Nayef Abisaid (LAU)
Mohamed Akkar (AUB)
Kamal Ali (AUB)
Jad Asmar (UOB)
Joe Safa (LAU)
Hanni Assi (LAU)
Ibrahim Ballout (LAU)
Najy Bassil (UOB)
Abdul Bekdache (UOB)
Ayman Bitar (Wolves)
Mohamed Chaker (UOB)
Darwich Darwich (UOB)
Ahmad Fadlallah (LAU)
Mounir Finan (Jounieh)
Gaby Abou Fayad (Wolves)
Talal Harmouche (Jounieh)
Mounib Ismael (UOB)
Aboud Karim Jameel (UOB)
Karim Jamal (LAU)
Yves Khoury (LAU)
Tarek Makhlouf (UOB)
Sami Mansour (UOB)
Najy Ramy (AUST)
Mohamed Tawil (AUB)

Also rugby league is set to have a huge push into the schools in Lebanon now that is is a recognised sporting federation in that country.

Australia

The NRL season is getting closer but before anything happens the Indigenous v All Stars game is to be played. The All Star team was named this week. Some of the players that made it are:

Darren Lockyer
Benji Marshall
Cameron Smith
Adam Blair
Billy Slater (Storm)
Israel Folau (Broncos)
Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
Dave Taylor (Rabbitohs)
Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles)
Jarryd Hayne (Eels)
Luke O’Donnell (Cowboys)
Kurt Gidley (Knights)
Anthony Tupou (Sharks)
Alan Tongue (Raiders)
Luke Bailey (Titans)
Josh Morris (Bulldogs)

The International 9’s to be played at Cabramatta are getting closer as well. These will be played on Saturday the 6th of February. Rugby League International Scores will be there and hopefully will have some great photos, video and interviews.

Rumour Mill

Some more discussions with the Polish Rugby League are on going. From what I hear a constitution is being written up as well as getting recognition from the sports ministry. There is a problem here as at the moment Rugby Union is the only recognised sport and so would have to split to form League… I am told that this is NOT in anyway interference from Union and they seem supportive at the moment, its just a government thing. Fingers crossed that it all works out OK.